Malaysia is to acquire six Eurocopter Fennec helicopters to replace elderly Westland Wasps in navy service.
Defence minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says the deal will be worth around 90 million ringgit ($23.7 million) - negotiations with Eurocopter will start shortly.
The Fennecs will be used as an interim Wasp replacement pending the delivery of six AgustaWestland Super Lynx due in 2003. Malaysia acquired 12 Wasps in the late 1980s but it keeps only a few airworthy. Cost is cited as a reason for replacing the machines.
A further naval helicopter competition is expected shortly for helicopters to equip 27 German-built Corvettes.
Source: Flight International
